When Wright’s Local Approach Backfired

My grandmother, Grace Roth Johnston, worked at the Larkin Soap Company before she was married. It was housed in that historic building—with its controversial columns, which were larger in diameter at the top than at the bottom—was demolished many years ago.

When my parents were looking for a house in 1920s Buffalo, there was a Wright house on the market. My parents thought it was too strange and settled on a rather ordinary house not far away.

When in grade school in the 1940s, I often visited the owners of the house. I remember there were sliding pocket doors to the bedrooms, and a low fireplace that was very wide. The furniture was all by Wright. The dining room and living room were one large space unlike the living room/formal dining room configuration that was standard at the time. The dining chairs were very high-backed, looking perfect for a group of bishops to have a meeting. Off the living room was a large covered porch.

My grandmother lived outside of Buffalo on the lakeshore. Wright had built a house nearby. He loved the round rocks that were all over the beaches on Lake Erie and decided to use them in a fireplace. All the locals knew that the rocks exploded when they were exposed to flame. This was learned from using them around bonfires at the beach. Wright was told about this but, of course, he didn’t listen. Guess what happened when the clients built their first fire.

In the 1950s I visited Taliesin West with my parents and another couple whose son was an apprentice there. Wright was very gracious and allowed us into his house. I bumped my head on the doorway that was very wide (and, obviously, very low.)

Spaulding Taylor